What is referred leg pain?

True Sciatica or Sciatic nerve pain involves the posterior aspect of the thigh, calf or foot and is caused by irritation or compression of a branch of the sciatic nerve, the main nerve into the leg.  Pain may originate where the nerves pass through and emerge between the lower bones of the spine (lumbar vertebrae) or as the nerve passes through the Piriformis muscles in the pelvis.There may be numbness and weakness of the lower leg muscles and loss of reflexes.

Very frequently, pain in the leg from a variety of causes is misnamed or misdiagnosed as sciatica. These causes include referred pain from lumbar muscle spasm, ligament strain, lumbar facet or sacroiliac joint strain or arthrosis.

Sciatic Pain and low back pain

Sciatic leg pain is often combined with low back pain. The order in which the symptoms appear may vary. Back pain often precedes leg pain and sometimes will follow.

Causes and effects

The most common cause of true sciatica is a “slipped, prolapsed, twisted or bulging disc“. The discs (or inter-vertebral discs) are the cushions which separate the bones of the spine (vertebrae).

The majority of what is often mis-diagnosed as ’sciatica’ is pain referred to various parts of the leg from locked or inflamed spinal facet joints, sacroiliac joints, muscle spasm or inflamed ligaments.

Low back and leg pain may cause  the sufferer to bend forward or sideways in an attempt to avoid further nerve compression (antalgia).

Treatment

At Sayer clinic we will perform chiropractic, orthopaedic and neurological tests and may take Digital Computerised X-Rays while the patient stands, so that major curvature and disc compression can be shown. The X-ray can also detect any congenital spinal deformities, bone cancer and osteoporosis (brittle bones).

Treatment of referred leg pain, depending on the cause, may involve physical therapy (ultrasound or low-intensity laser), medical acupuncture, gentle and specific spinal mobilisation or manipulation of other areas of the spine to balance mobility, soft-tissue massage therapy or acupuncture.

Where examination indicates a large disc prolapse with major neurological symptoms and signs an MRI scan will be arranged and neurosurgical referral will be made without delay.

There has been limited large-scale, clinical research carried out in the physical treatment of sciatic pain and limited evidence of the efficacy or otherwise of manual and acupuncture treatment for these conditions. See the Bronfort Report.

However, we strive to either achieve good results or refer responsibly for MRI and neurosurgery where appropriate.

Sayer Clinics in London W8, W1 & EC2 since 1982

Each Clinic offers a variety of services for:

• back pain relief

• lower back pain relief

• ’sciatic pain’ relief

• sciatic physical therapy

• chronic back pain relief

Treatments include: Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Medical Acupuncture, Physical Therapy Laser / Ultrasound and Therapeutic Massage.

To view patient’s testimonials for Sayer Clinics London, please click here.

Call Ines or Maggie on 020 7937 8978 to make an appointment  from 8am to 8pm

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